Higher Education Commission of Pakistan - Praise of Higher Education Reforms

Praise of Higher Education Reforms

There has been much praise of the higher education reforms under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman,FRS, its former Chairman. Pakistan has also been given a number of prestigious international awards for the remarkable transformation of the higher education sector.

Prof. Wolfgang Voelter (Tübingen University, Germany) in his article in Pakistan's leading Daily Newspaper Dawn entitled "The Golden Age" writes "A miracle happened. The scenario of education, science and technology in Pakistan changed dramatically, as never before in the history of Pakistan. The chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Education recently announced it as "Pakistan's golden period in higher education".

A US educational expert Prof. Fred M. Hayward has also praised the reform process undertaken by Pakistan: "Since 2002 a number of extraordinary changes have taken place. Over the last six years almost 4,000 scholars have participated in PhD programs in Pakistan. More than 600 students have studied in foreign PhD programs. The Higher Education Commission instituted major upgrades for laboratories and information and communications technology, rehabilitation of facilities, expansion of research support, and development of one of the best digital libraries in the region. A quality assurance and accreditation process was also established. Its successes have been remarkable as the recurrent and development budgets increased 340 percent in real terms from 2001 to 2005/06. By 2008, as a result of its policy and financial successes, most universities had become strong proponents of the Higher Education Commission.Quality had increased significantly, and several institutions were on their way to becoming world-class institutions. Many expatriate Pakistanis returned from abroad with access to competitive salaries. About 95 percent of people sent abroad for training returned, an unusually high result for a developing country in response to improved salaries and working conditions at universities as well as bonding and strict follow-up by the commission, Fulbright, and others."

Prof. Michael Rode, Former Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science, Technology and Development and presently heading a Network of European and Asian Universities (ASIA-UNINET) writes: "The progress made was breath-taking and has put Pakistan ahead of comparable countries in numerous aspects. To name just a few, the establishment of a free access to scientific literature by high-speed Internet for all universities, the thousands of promising young scientists who were granted PhD studies at top universities abroad, the upgrade of research equipment accessible across the country and the programme of establishing new universities of science and technology, including technology parks attracting foreign investors, prove the efficiency and the long-term benefits for the country enabled by the HEC's chairman.The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology has closely monitored the development in Pakistan in the past years, coming to the unanimous conclusion that Prof Rahman’s policy and programme is a 'best-practice' example for developing countries aiming at building their human resources and establishing an innovative, technology-based economy."

Pakistan has won four international awards for the revolutionary changes in the higher education sector brought about under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman (Federal Minister), Higher Education Commission. The TWAS (Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, Italy)Award for Institutional Development was conferred on Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman at the 11th General Conference of TWAS in October 2009.." The Austrian Government conferred its high civil award "Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande" (2007) on Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman for transforming the Higher Education sector in Pakistan. Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman was also elected as Fellow of Royal Society (London)(2006) and Honorary Life Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge University (2007) in recognition of his academic contributions as well as his services to the higher education sector in Pakistan.

Nature, a leading science journal,has also written a number of editorials and articles about the transformation brought about in Pakistan in the higher education sector under he leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, former Chairman (Federal Minister), Higher Education Commission.

In an article entitled "Pak Threat to Indian Science" published in the leading daily newspaper Hindustan Times, India, it has been reported that Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Chairman of the Indian Prime Minister's Scientific Advisory Council made a presentation to the Indian Prime Minister at the rapid progress made by Pakistan in the higher education sector under the leadership of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman, Higher Education Commission. It was reported that as result of the reforms brought about in Pakistan " Pakistan may soon join China in giving India serious competition in science". "Science is a lucrative profession in Pakistan. It has tripled the salaries of its scientists in the last few years."